It’s time to draw a line in the sand. This city government is out of control and spending our tax money like drunken sailors on frivolities and pet projects. Beware of the old bait-and-switch they use to lure you into thinking that Measure A will support the police and fire.
The only way we can fight this drain into city hall’s black hole is at the ballot box. Vote “No” on Measure A and any other propositions/bonds that raise our taxes. Vote for and support candidates such as Robert Fox (2nd District) and Juan Ovalle (8th District) who care about your well being and will work to curtail unnecessary spending.
Your vote does count. Vote “No” on Measure A.
I’ve always believed what I was taught as a young person by my parents, “live within your means”, but our city council does not know how to do that.
I’ve always believed that in a civil society taxation is necessary to ensure things like roads, public safety, and social safety networks. Instead of living within its means, city council is spending hand over fist unnecessarily. We have a huge unfunded pension obligation that is burdening our budget. We’ve essentially incurred a huge billion dollar debt with the new (but smaller) city hall and main library. We have a $9 million burger stand on the beach, a $1 million TV in city hall that cost a quarter million dollars annually to operate and untold other unnecessary expenditures.
Four years ago we were asked to approve Measure A on a temporary basis to restore our police force back to pre-recession levels and to help repair our infrastructure. In spite of the Mayor’s most recent propaganda I don’t see any expenditures above the normal city budget and I certainly haven’t seen more than a handful of additional police officers. Now we’re being asked to pay Measure A—FOREVER!
City Hall has proven they can’t be trusted with our tax dollars, they can’t keep their word, and they can’t be trusted to govern.
Vote NO on Measure A
The Mayor is flooding the city residents with expensive, slick, multi- color shiny flyers for Measure A that say: “Promise Made…Promises Kept.” Really? The overriding promise was that this extra sales tax was supposed to END! So this is “promises made, promises forgotten!”
This sales tax still has more years to go, before it ends…yet the Mayor and his endorsed candidates, want it to continue forever. It should be called the ” Infinity Tax”–it will last forever and ever if they have their way. We all support the Fire Department and Police, but this is not supporting Fire Department and Police. It is going into the General Fund, for use at the whims of the Mayor and City Council.
Four years ago we were asked to approve Measure A on a temporary basis to restore our police force back to pre-recession levels and to help repair our infrastructure. I haven’t seen the previously promised additional police officers. Now we’re being asked to pay Measure A—FOREVER! I think the City should manage within its means and let the tax end. If they need it again in a few years, ask us then.
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Hear, hear! Couldn’t have said it better.
When I served on our city council as the 8th district representative, we were going through very difficult financial times. Slowly, things were getting a bit better until 2008. We all know what happened then……I was always with the mindset that we needed to find another revenue source to support all of the services our residents wanted and deserved. But I was firm in stating that the people of Long Beach must be informed and educated on what these measures/propositions meant. Only then would our people (voters) support another tax. Foster’s attempt failed……not because it was wrong, but because he did not believe in full disclosure.
Measure A, as it stands will keep the tax dollars in Long Beach….that’s good. But the fact that those monies go into the general fund with minimal oversight or public disclosure on how they are spent, is the problem. A 2/3 dedicated tax vote could be dedicated to public safety or infrastructure, or whatever……. but that is not what this mayor wants. They need our money! Yet, city hall representatives- mayor, council members or staff – refuse to give full disclosure for what our “real” needs are and how we can help! IMHO.